Aries and Friends

I was going to call this post "Friends with Benefits" but I knew what you'd think and it IS a family blog...

When we were in Mexico, we took Aries to the vet for her 5 year check-up. No, she's not 5 years old (in fact, she'll be 15 this month!), it's that she hasn't been to the vet for FIVE years. While there, we pulled out all the stops and did some blood tests, had her teeth checked, and were specifically wondering why she'd lost so much weight (1kg, 2.25 lbs!). Note that she was FAT before so no harm done. It turns out that all is well and she has the body of a much younger lady.

For whatever reason, Aries really likes the kids (note that she's never liked Ed or I much...). They're pretty good with her (we don't let them bother her too much). In fact, their first real word (that is consistently associated with ONE object and not everything) that they both started to say this week is "CAT"! You can ask them "Where is the cat?" and they'll look for her, point at her and say "Cat" or "Ca". They can say mama and dada, ga, ya and other syllables but with no meaning or context.

Aries parks herself beside Artemis at every meal (never beside Max as he EATS all of his food), waits patiently and is always rewarded. As for the weight loss, with friends like these, it's a wonder that she's lost any weight.



Since Artemis shares her food with the cat, she is especially hungry and has been known to eat other things. Like this morning, yum, orange peels!



No pictures of Max today as he is recuperating from his face first fall onto the concrete curb (yesterday). The first of many I'm sure. Besides, he's teething and hasn't been up for taking pictures. Here's one taken yesterday while he's watching the dogs play (favourite pasttime #2, next to playing with the cat). I didn't notice until after the picture was taken that he'd removed his (left) slipper.

Nanna's a Pack Rat but Where is Uncle Andrew's Lederhosen?

Nanna keeps (almost) everything.

After the kids were born, she gave me boxes and boxes and boxes full of stuff from my childhood.

Literally, every picture, piece of pottery, bracelet (you get my drift) that I'd ever made.

Some of Andrew's stuff also made it to me.

We had a good laugh over the (ple)leather red lederhosen that he had worn on many occasions.

Luckily for Max, they were donated (to the Smithsonian, smile). Nowadays, dressing your kids in clothes like that is considered abuse. When she gets back from her European vacation, I'll ask her to find a picture of Andrew in it, I'm sure that she's kept a picture...

We did keep a couple of items and it turns out that they now fit Max.

Here he is modeling the knit blue bloomers and railroad ballcap that are now 35 years old (and still going strong).

The cap matches Uncle Andrew's Oshkosh railroad overalls (they’re still way too big).





And a picture of Artemis petting (read: annoying) the cat.

Have Any Pack Rats in Your Family?

  Besos, The Zoo

Max and The Elf

Here are pictures from today.

We're Back from San Cristobal de Las Casas, Mexico {Travel}

It's been 102 days since my last post (from Canada). Time sure does fly when you're having fun. I really missed being in touch and having access to the internet/email/our website. My writing skills are a bit rusty so bear with me.


In a nutshell, Mexico was a complete success! All of the Zoo was healthy; except for a 2-day flu that I got and a 2-week cold (limited to a stuffy nose) that we all caught. The weather was amazing; the warmest it's been for years. Our friends were glad to see us so the parties never ended. We held a weekly (Sunday) "Bazaar" that made us the talk of the neighbourhood and allowed us to get rid of tons of unused stuff.

We left San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico at 6:40am on March 17 and drove into the driveway at my Mom's house (in Toronto) at 8:15pm on March 20. The drive home was in record time and with record "peace".

The kids were amazing, content to spend up to 16 hours a day in their car seat, the cat meowed for less than 15 minutes total (usually she meows for 2 hours every morning), the dogs both sat/lay on the front seat (which left me with more leg room in the back) and Ed drove almost 60 hours with little sleep (and no complaints)!

My job was to keep the kids amused, pump (4 times a day) and feed everyone. We stopped off for groceries so that we didn't have to eat McDonalds for 4 days. Besides, it saves on money and time (two things close to my heart...).

We spent the 21 and 22nd visiting with the Abuelos, Uncle Andrew and Fred and headed back to Ottawa on the 23rd (Ed had a meeting in Ottawa on the 24th, no rest for the wicked). When we arrived home, the house was "almost" exactly as we left it. Except for the little problem with flooding… Thankfully, "Eric the Sheriff" had replaced out our non-functioning sump-pump and Ed had taken everything off the floor before we left so there wasn't any damage (just a very wet carpet). We rented an industrial fan for a couple of days and all is as it should be.

During the day on Friday, Ethan and Christina came over for a playdate and Christmas present exchange. Presents in March, how lovely!

On Friday night, we went to Finnertys (we'd missed 14 sales but who's counting…). Unfortunately there wasn't much (like a microwave and/or toaster as I took ours to Mexico) so we went to the Five Star for dinner. All the servers were happy to see the kids and they behaved (as usual).


As soon as I got the chance, I headed to Lazarus house for my "fix" and to buy the kids some clothes. For the past month, they have been growing like weeds and no longer fit in any of the clothes that I took to Mexico. In fact, I had to buy them some new clothes in Mexico. Artemis went from 3 month old sizes directly to 6 month olds. Max is in 12 month old clothes. I have to book their 15 month doctor's appointment so we can officially see how much they grew (and gained).

Ed is busy with work (which is great) and has a business trip to Edmonton scheduled for April 4-10. For those of you who don’t know, it was originally scheduled for March but he postponed it as he'd already been on a busines trip (from Mexico) to Halifax in late February (for 5 days). I stayed in Mexico with the Zoo.

Unfortunately, Great Aunt May and Great Aunt Margaret have recently passed away. We feel so fortunate that they were able to attend the kids Baptism in July (May is Father Allan Hood's Mother). They will be remembered fondly.

Upon our return, we found out that Sarah's cousin Jonathan and his wife Carrie are expecting a pink bundle of joy, due in June 2011. We can't wait for the kids to meet their new cousin.

The kids have been walking for a while (Artemis since the New Year and Max since February 1). We have yet to transition to cow's milk (I'm still pumping) but it's coming, sooner rather than later. They’re really good eaters and I'm excited to see how much they've gained. They still have 6 teeth each (4 on the top, 2 on the bottom) but are teething a lot. Max talks constantly (tons of different sounds, nothing coherent) and Artemis is vocal as well. It’s so interesting to see all that they do understand. They know what their names are and are able to come and/or pass you things. Very useful...

I'm sure that there's so much more to share but I've forgotten. I'm still tired from the two hour time change (Mexicans "Spring Forward" but not until April) and all that is involved in raising two 15-month old toddlers.

And a few more pictures.

Keep in touch.

  Besos, The Zoo

Quick Update from Mexico

This is just a quick update to let you know that all is well.

Artemis has been walking since New Years, Max has already taken his first steps.
Max is eating everything under the sun, Artemis likes chicken and cheese.
The weather has been amazing, we're had a few campfires.
Today is my first visit to the internet cafe. I'll post pictures during my next visit.
We think of you often and miss all of you.

See you "soon".